South Coast

New snow, strong winds, and rising temperatures are a perfect recipe for avalanches.  Careful route selection will be critical for safe back country travel

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

The South Coast Inland should see some clearing on Friday with freezing levels going up to 2700m. On Saturday expect 10mm of moisture with freezing levels at around 1700m followed by another 5 to 10mm on Sunday and Monday next week with freezing levels dropping to more normal seasonal values.

A few wet snow avalanches have been reported occurring on solar aspects. Cloudy skies may keep the surface from overnight freezing and  rising teemperatures may increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches and cornice failures.

The recent precipitation is falling on a variety of old snow surfaces that exist throughout the region. Melt-freeze conditions can be found on solar aspects in the alpine, and on all aspects at lower elevations. On high north-facing terrain, you may find stubborn old wind slabs and some surface facets from cold, clear nights, buried around March 5th. The snowpack is generally strong and well settled. Cornices , however, may become weak with daytime warming. New storm snow will most likely be quite wet and accompanied by strong SW winds.